McLaren has made an even-more focused version of its 650S supercar by giving it a longer, more aerodynamic rear end and more grunt from its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. All of that combined creates the 675LT - the 675 is the output in hp while the LT stands for Long Tail. That is a reference both to the 675LT's longer, more aero-friendly rear-end (which also comes with a 50 per cent bigger air-brake) and to the classic F1 GTR long-tail Le Mans racer of the late nineties.
Under that longer rear deck, lies the same 3.8-litre engine as in the 650S, but it has been thoroughly tweaked. Upgrades include new, more efficient turbos, detail design changes to the cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds, new camshafts and lightweight connecting rods and a faster-flowing fuel pump and delivery system. Performance is simply off the scale - 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200km/h in 7 seconds - or about the time a decent hot hatch takes to get to 100km/h. And a top speed of 330km/h, just breaking the 205mph barrier.
Astonishingly, given how lightweight the standard 650S already is, McLaren has actually managed to trim 100kg from the overall weight, giving a kerb weight of just 1,230kg - or about the same as a basic Ford Focus. This is a car with, we'd like to point out, 700Nm of torque...
Balancing out the longer rear deck and the bigger air-brake is a more aggressive aero package at the front, including a new front splitter that McLaren claims can "work the air harder". Two circular exhaust pipes, forged from titanium, exit centrally through exposed bodywork below the rear wing. Despite a more complex design, the bespoke crossover system is designed to optimise performance and reduce weight, saving 1.1kg. The rear deck and sections flanking the exhaust pipes remain exposed; they're designed to evacuate hot air from the engine bay as efficiently as possible, while a lightweight polycarbonate rear screen features further louvres. The rear design is completed by a dramatic integrated carbon fibre diffuser.
McLaren will offer the LT in five 'By McLaren' specifications, which includes four bespoke colours never previously offered: Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey, all newly formulated paint hues for the 675LT. The famous heritage McLaren Orange will also be available and the stripped out interior comes with carefully selected materials and colours.
It will get its first public outing at the Geneva Motor Show next week and will attempt to steal the show thunder from Ferrari's new 488 GTB.